Carteret men get 15- and 11-year sentences for guilty pleas

Reels, Murrell

Published: Friday, July 12, 2013 at 06:52 AM.

Two Carteret County men convicted of drug trafficking will serve time in federal prison.

Frenchie Leapas Reels, 38, and Casey Deandre Murrell, 32, both of the Merrimon community, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distributing and possessing with the intent to distribute 280 grams or more of crack cocaine and 5 kilograms or more of cocaine. Reels was also convicted of money laundering, according to a news release issued Thursday by the Carteret County Sheriff ’s Office.

Reels and Murrell were arrested in September by the sheriff ’s office following an undercover operation into drug trafficking activities.

Assisting in the operation were members of the Morehead City Police Department, the Craven County Sheriff’s Office, Jones County Sheriff ’s Office and Coast Guard Investigative Service.

The case was then taken on by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for prosecution.

According to the Sheriff ’s Office, the case is part of an operation by the sheriff ’s office targeting high level drug dealers and prosecuting them on the federal level.

To date, 20 suspects have been convicted and sentenced to more than 190 years in federal prison cumulatively.

Two Carteret County men convicted of drug trafficking will serve time in federal prison.

Frenchie Leapas Reels, 38, and Casey Deandre Murrell, 32, both of the Merrimon community, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distributing and possessing with the intent to distribute 280 grams or more of crack cocaine and 5 kilograms or more of cocaine. Reels was also convicted of money laundering, according to a news release issued Thursday by the Carteret County Sheriff ’s Office.

Reels and Murrell were arrested in September by the sheriff ’s office following an undercover operation into drug trafficking activities.

Assisting in the operation were members of the Morehead City Police Department, the Craven County Sheriff’s Office, Jones County Sheriff ’s Office and Coast Guard Investigative Service.

The case was then taken on by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for prosecution.

According to the Sheriff ’s Office, the case is part of an operation by the sheriff ’s office targeting high level drug dealers and prosecuting them on the federal level.

To date, 20 suspects have been convicted and sentenced to more than 190 years in federal prison cumulatively.

Reels was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison and Murrell was sentenced to 11 years and three months.